The Feast of St. Vincent de Paul

September 27th

Vincent de Paul was an ambitious young peasant born in 1580 France who grew up wanting an easy path to a comfortable life, and he thought that the priesthood offered that opportunity. Concealing his age and becoming ordained at the age of 19, he studied and was moved about, eventually being sent to Paris. Vincent craved being in the company of rich nobility. But a new spiritual director marked a turning point in Vincent’s life and he was named pastor of a poor parish outside of Paris. This is where his ambition began turning toward God and his vocation to the priesthood.

Vincent dedicated his life to the poor and inspired others to service. His vision was simply that the Good News should be announced to the poor and marginalized because Jesus lived among them. Vincent transformed the face of the French church. He was funny, charming, impassioned and candid. Vincent’s heart had changed from a greedy heart to a heart for the poor with the capacity to connect with all types of people and get them to serve their needy neighbors. He saw to it that thousands of hungry people were fed, prisoners visited, clergy trained, naked clothed, the sick nursed in hospices and hospitals, orphans cared for and literacy brought to the poor.

For help, Vincent called upon his aristocratic friend and widow, Louise de Marillac, who was a very clever and organized leader. Louise had received a vision at Pentecost that she could bring young women together to serve Christ in the poor in a community setting. In 1633, with Vincent’s approval, she took 12 peasant women into her own home. She would direct them on how to live as a prayerful community, and how to work and serve Christ among the poor. Louise called these young women the Company of the Daughters of Charity –Servants of the Poor. The Sisters lived a life of prayer, community and service, in humility, simplicity and charity.

Together, Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac brought a new way of imagining and defining consecrated life to the world.

Vincent worked until he was 80. His correspondence was immense.  During his lifetime, he wrote more than 30,000 letters and a constant stream of visitors came to him to seek his counsel. Vincent died on September 27, 1660. All of France mourned his passing.

Provincial Meeting 2026

Sisters from the Province gathered July 7 – 12 for the Provincial Assembly with the theme: Artisans of Peace and Hope.  It was a time of joy, meaningful dialogue, and beautiful times of prayer together.

Sisters Under Ten Years Vocation

Formation Weekend in Los Altos Hills

Fourteen Sisters under 10 years of vocation from both the Provinces of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Louise gathered together at Seton to share prayer, dialogue, as well as fun, laughter, and many joyful moments. Their sessions were led by Father Dick Benson, CM, and included topics such as Catholic social teaching, healthy friendships, and communal and private prayer. The group sharing was full of energy, with deep, thoughtful insights. 

Sister Francoise Petit, D.C.

Superioress General Visits the Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Sister Francoise Petit, Superioress General of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul oversees the 11,000 Sisters that have ministries in 97 countries. She visited the Province of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in November along with Sister Julie Kubasak, General Councillor for English speaking countries.

During her stay in the Province, she visited with the Sisters and their ministries in the San Francisco Bay Area (Rosalie Rendu Center, Epiphany Center, DeMarillac Academy, and Villa Siena). In Los Angeles, she met students at Mother of Sorrows School, and saw programs at Maryvale, Meals on Wheels, and the Tiny Homes Village.

Everywhere she went, Sister Françoise brought a sense of joy and excitement with her spirit of kindness, deep interest, and openness and was met with much gratitude for her visit. Sister Françoise was recently appointed by Pope Leo XIV as a member of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, a great honor and privilege!